Sound absorbing and attenuating structure

ABSTRACT

A sound absorbing and attenuating structure has an outer support within which there are at least three compartments, the intermediate one being empty and the others being filled with fiber glass or other sound absorbing material. Two of said compartments extend continuously from the top extremity to the bottom extremity, while the intermediate compartment also does, but is equipped with shelves that extend alternately left to right and right to left. Covers at the top and bottom extremities close my structure.

United States Patent [191 Eckel Jan. 30, 1973 SOUND ABSORBING AND ATTENUATING STRUCTURE Inventor: Oliver 0. Eckel, PO. Box 226,

Weston, Mass. 02138 [22] Filed: Jan. 13,1972

I [21] App1.N0.: 217,455

Related US. Application Data I63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 18,531, March 11,

l970, abandoned.

"[52] US Cl ..181/33 GB, 181/33 G '[51] Int. Cl. ..E04b 1/86 [58] Field ofSearch.181/33 0,33 GA,33 GB,33 K; 52/404, 406, 624, 625, 627

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,578,344 3/1926 Munroe ..52/618 1,899,653 2/1933 Venzie I 1 ..52/404 2,128,540 8/1938 Rocque ..52/404 2,363,068 11/1944 Leadbetter ..52/404 3,120,295 2/1964 Lemmerman.... .....181/33 GB 3,273,297 9/1966 Wehe ..181/33 GB FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3,907 4/1901 Austria ..52/624 Primary ExaminerRobert S. Ward, Jr. Attorney-Harold E. Cole [57] ABSTRACT does, but is equipped with shelves that extend al-,

ternately left to right and right to left. Covers at the top and bottom extremities close my structure.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SOUND ABSORBING AND ATTENUATING STRUCTURE This is a continuation-in-part of my Pat. application, Ser. No. 18,531, filed Mar. ll, 1970, for a Sound Absorbing And Attenuating Panel, and now abandoned.

My principal object is to provide a structure so formed that absorption of sound waves is increased without having to increase the thickness of the structure, and effecting this economically, by reducing weight.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and arrangement such as is disclosed by the drawing. The na ture of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and, therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawing, nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a number of my panels joined together.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a complete panel.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of my panel, one side of said panel being broken away to show the interior thereof.

As illustrated, my panel 8 has supporting means known as a perimeter frame 10 with a cover 12 at one end having a flange l3 terminating in a turned over, inwardly extending portion or loop portion 14. A similar cover 16 is at the opposite end that also has a loop portion, not shown.

Said frame 10 also has a left side 18 and a right side 19 along which said covers 12 and 16 extend a short distance. Attached to said sides is a front face member 20 formed of mesh or similar material and a back face member 22 similarly formed. The foregoing provides a perimeter frame 10 which retains acoustical insulating means such as fiber glass or other sound absorbing material later referred to.

Within said frame 10 is a septum 26 that extends between and reaches said covers 12 and 16. Said septum has a plurality of shaft portions 28, 30, 32, and 34, some relatively short, as shown, although the number and length may be varied. These shaft portions not only strengthen the septum, but they alternate their positions as will be later referred to. Between each two shaft portions, and extending at a right angle thereto, there are connectors shown as 44, 46 and 48.

Said septum 26 not only defines a compartment 42 intermediate two outer compartments 40 and 43. Said two outer compartments are filled with said sound insulating means, such as mineral wool or fiber glass, which are preferably formed in rigid layers M that may be cemented to one surface of said shaft portions 28, 30, 32 and 34, and to said sides 18 and 19. Said intermediate compartment 42 is empty to thus provide a space to effect sound absorption between the sound insulating means in said compartments 40 and 43 on opposite sides thereof.

Said connectors 44, 46, 48, serve to alternate the positions of said shaft portions 28, 30, 32 and 34 so that one shaft portion IS next to a said compartment 40 and another is next to said compartment 43. This alternation accentuates the sound absorption qualities of my panel since said connectors interfere with the travel of sound waves to thus also serve as sound repellents.

In said FIG. 1, I show a number of said panels 8 hingedly joined together by means of well-known hinges 52, which structure makes it possible to enclose or set off a space occupied by a telephone switchboard, business machines, between machinery in textile plants or other similar installations.

What I claim is:

1. A sound absorbing structure comprising outer supporting means having front and rear face members spaced apart, a septum supported by said means and positioned intermediate of and spaced from said front and rear face members to thereby provide an intermediate compartment and two compartments in said spaces at opposite sides of said septum, said septum having shaft portions alternately adjoining said latter two compartments and having connectors spaced apart and extending respectively at an angle between two of said shaft portions, and sound absorbing material in said latter two compartments.

2. A sound absorbing structure as of claim 1, said intermediate compartment being empty, said material forming a rigid unit in each of said latter two compartments.

3. A sound absorbing structure as of claim 1, said supporting means having sides at opposite extremities of said structure, and covers having flanges respectively extending parallel with and adjacent said sides and respectively terminating in loop portions turned inwardly towards said sides.

4. A sound absorbing structure as of claim 1, an adjoining said structure, and hinges movably connecting said structures.

5. A sound absorbing structure as of claim 1, said supporting means having covers at opposite ends thereof, said septum shaft portions extending from and between said covers.

6. A sound absorbing structure as of claim 5, said intermediate compartment being empty, said means having sides at opposite extremities of said structure, said covers having flanges respectively extending parallel with and adjacent said sides. 

1. A sound absorbing structure comprising outer supporting means having front and rear face members spaced apart, a septum supported by said means and positioned intermediate of and spaced from said front and rear face members to thereby provide an intermediate compartment and two compartments in said spaces at opposite sides of said septum, said septum having shaft portions alternately adjoining said latter two compartments and having connectors spaced apart and extending respectively at an angle between two of said shaft portions, and sound absorbing material in said latter two compartments.
 1. A sound absorbing structure comprising outer supporting means having front and rear face members spaced apart, a septum supported by said means and positioned intermediate of and spaced from said front and rear face members to thereby provide an intermediate compartment and two compartments in said spaces at opposite sides of said septum, said septum having shaft portions alternately adjoining said latter two compartments and having connectors spaced apart and extending respectively at an angle between two of said shaft portions, and sound absorbing material in said latter two compartments.
 2. A sound absorbing structure as of claim 1, said intermediate compartment being empty, said material forming a rigid unit in each of said latter two compartments.
 3. A sound absorbing structure as of claim 1, said supporting means having sides at opposite extremities of said structure, and covers having flanges respectively extending parallel with and adjacent said sides and respectively terminating in loop portions turned inwardly towards said sides.
 4. A sound absorbing structure as of claim 1, an adjoining said structure, and hinges movably connecting said structures.
 5. A sound absorbing structure as of claim 1, said supporting means having covers at opposite ends thereof, said septum shaft portions extending from and between said covers. 